The son of a wealthy Moscow merchant, Guchkov studied at the universities of Moscow and Berlin, traveled widely, fought against the British in the South African (Boer) War (1899–1902), and headed the Russian Red Cross during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05).

After the Revolution of 1905 compelled Nicholas II to issue the October Manifesto, creating a constitutional monarchy, Guchkov helped found the Octobrist Party, which supported the emperor’s manifesto and attempted to work with the government to enact more reforms; in 1910–11 he also served as president of the State Duma (the elected chamber of the legislative body). Guchkov became increasingly critical of the imperial government, however, particularly for its misconduct of military affairs, for its disdain for the constitution and parliamentary methods of legislation, and for the growing influence of the monk Grigory Rasputin.

When World War I broke out, Guchkov again served as head of the Red Cross and in 1915 became chairman of the Central War Industries Committee, which, almost independently of the government, assumed responsibility for producing supplies and transporting them to the front. In late 1916 he is said to have become involved in a plot to overthrow Nicholas, but, before the alleged conspirators could put their plans into effect, the February Revolution broke out. Guchkov was sent by the provisional government to Pskov, where he formally received Nicholas’ abdication (March 15 [March 2], 1917). Although he regretted Russia’s transformation from a constitutional monarchy into a republic, he accepted the post of minister of war and the navy (March 15) and tried briefly but unsuccessfully to restore discipline in the army. He resigned a few months later when a major political controversy developed over aspects of the provisional government’s foreign policy.

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